that were fed on the occasion.  At that sacrifice king Harishchandra gave away unto all who asked, wealth that was five times what each had solicited.  At the conclusion of the sacrifice, the king gratified the Brahmanas that came from various countries with large presents of various kinds of wealth.  The Brahmanas gratified with various kinds of food and enjoyable articles, given away unto them to the extent of their desires, and with the heaps of jewels distributed amongst them, began to say,—­King Harischandra is superior to all kings in energy and renown.—­And know, O monarch, O bull of the Bharata race, it was for this reason that Harischandra shone more brightly than thousands of other kings.  The powerful Harischandra having concluded his great sacrifice, became installed, O king, in the sovereignty of the earth and looked resplendent on his throne.  O bull of the Bharata race, all those monarchs that perform the sacrifice of Rajasuya, (attaining to the region of Indra) pass their time in felicity in Indra’s company.  And, O bull of the Bharata race, those kings also that yield up their lives without turning their backs on the field of battle attain to the mansion of Indra and live in joy with him.  Those again that yield up their bodies after severe ascetic penances also attain to the same region and shine brightly there for ages.  O king of the Kuru race, O son of Kunti, thy father Pandu, beholding the good fortune of Harischandra and wondering much thereat, hath told thee something.  Knowing that I was coming to the world of men, he bowed unto me and said,—­Thou shouldst tell Yudhishthira, O Rishi, that he can subjugate the whole Earth inasmuch as his brothers are all obedient to him.  And having done this let him commence the grand sacrifice called Rajasuya.  He is my son; if he performeth that sacrifice, I may, like Harischandra, soon attain to the region of Indra, and there in his Sabha pass countless years in continuous joy.  I told him in reply,—­O King, I shall tell thy son all this, if I go to the world of man.  I have now told thee what he said, O tiger among men.  Accomplish then, O son of Pandu, the desires of thy father.  If thou performest that sacrifice, thou shall then be able to go, along with thy deceased ancestors, into the same region that is inhabited by the chief of the immortals.  It hath been said,—­O king, that the performance of this great sacrifice is attended with many obstacles.  A class of Rakshasas called Brahma Rakshasas, employed in obstructing all sacrifices, always search for loop-holes when this great sacrifice is commenced.  On the commencement of such a sacrifice a war may take place destroying the Kshatriyas and even furnishing occasion for the destruction of the whole Earth.  A slight obstacle may involve the whole Earth in ruin.  Reflecting upon all this, O king of kings do what is for thy good.  Be thou watchful and ready in protecting the four orders of thy subjects.  Grow, thou in prosperity, and enjoy thou felicity.  Gratify thou the Brahmanas with gifts of wealth.  I have now answered in detail all that thou hast asked me.  With thy leave I will now go to the city (Dwaravati) of that Dasarhas.”